Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of 2-aryl-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)-1,2,3-triazol derivatives as microtubule-destabilizing agents

Abstract

A series of 2-aryl-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)-1,2,3-triazols were designed as analogs of substituted methoxybenzoyl-aryl-thiazole (SMART) under the consideration of geometric features. The target compounds were synthesized via concise and efficient processes including microwave-assisted cyclization, and were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against three human cancer cell lines. Most compounds exhibited moderate antiproliferative activity with IC₅₀ values in the micromolar to sub-micromolar range. Tubulin polymerization and immunofluorescence studies demonstrated that (Z)-9a was a potent microtubule-destabilizing agent and disrupted the polymerization dynamics. Moreover, (Z)-9a significantly induced accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase and caused microtubule destabilization. Molecular modeling studies showed that (Z)-9a probably binds to the colchicine site of tubulin.